Pole-erecting apparatus.



J. M. HUMISTON. POLE ERECTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIoN FILED MAlLzs, 1907.

1,014,477, l Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'Hlllllll-lllllll/lln'- Ill!` lulllll-lliuuw oo I Qn 072 J. M. HUMISTON.

POLE EREGTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1907. 1,014,477. PatentedJalLQ, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wizzesses: I

J. M. HUMISTON POLE ERECTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. ze, 1907.

Patented J a'n. 9,i 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ejn H m si'n,

- To all 'whom 'it may concern:

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN M. HtmIsToN, or BEnwYm ILLINoIs.

I POLE-ERECTING APPARATUS.

Application med umn as, 1907. serial No. 364,957.'

Be it known that I, JOHN M. HUMIsToN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Berwyn, countyf'rof Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pole-ErectingApparatus, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to a mechamcal means for excavating holes in theground for the setting of posts and poles.

The object of the present invention is to provide an efficient andflexible means for' excavating holes for the reception of poles aml. toprovide a means for erecting the o es. p Furthermore, the invention hasfor its ob ject the provision of a mechanical apparatus, the severalparts of which will be driven by a prime mover, the power of l which maybe conveniently appliedto the locomotion of the equipment, totheexcavation of holes and'to the erection ofpoles.

With this and other objects in view, the present invention consists inthecombination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and particularlypointedout yin the appended claims, it being understood that changes' inthe form, construction, size and minor details may be made within thescope of the claims .without departing from the spirit or sacriicing anyof the advantages of the invention.

` Inthe drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of an apparatus constructed andarranged inaccordance withthe present invention;

vFig. 2 is an elevation of the same device;

Fig. 3 is a detail of a portion ofthe auger; Fig. 4 .is a detail of aclutch on the auger;

Fig. 5 is a plan det-ail of the steering` knuckle arrangement; Fig. 6 isa front A elevation vof the steering knuckles and axle, 45

and showing the axle with the bolster carrying the wagon-bed which issuspended therefrom; Fig. modified style of construction of steeringknuckles and axle'.

. Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures ofthe drawings,

" For convenience` in transportation, thel present apparatus has awheeled platform or' body 1, hung from rear wheels '2 and frontwheels3,Ithe front wheels being pro- 7 is a front elevation of a vided withsteering knuckles 4 connected to the steering lever 5 which operatesboth -knuckles simultaneously through the conhoist 13 with a piston andpiston -rod 14.-

By an admission of air to this cylinder hoist through the valve 1.5, thepiston is moved, drawing rod 14 which in turn .pulls rope 17 throughpulleys 12, which rope is attached to a regular rotary air drill 18,

connected through an' automatic val-ve 19 with'the air supply throughthe hose 20. Thls rotary air drill-has a rotating element and astationary body; the rotating element 1s coupled to and operates anauger 21 which has a telescoping stem 22, shown in detail in Fig. 4. Bymeans of the dogs 23 of the clutch 24, the inner shell 25 of the auger21 may be locked at any one of several predetermined points of the outershell 26.

The appliance may be propelled either by transmitting power from theprime mover to the back wheels 2 through any` suitable one'of thewell-known transmission gears, or by bitching draft animals to the frame1 of the rig. he boom ,may be raised and' lowered` by means of rope .26working through tackle 27, which, is only shown 1n Fig. 2, being omittedfrom Fig. 1 for the sake of clearness,

lIn operation the gasolene engine vgenerates power, taking gasolene fromthe tank 28'through ipe 29 through feed pump 301 through car ureter 31into the cyl1nder32. The im ulses obtained from the explosions rotate ywheels 33 and ulley 34 which is attached to the same sha t 'as y wheels33. The cylinder of the engine is cooled by -water drawn from tank 35through pipe 36 and returned to the tank through p1pe 37 The belt 38transmits the power through-the com-v bination fly Wheel and pulley 39to the crank shaft 40 of the air compressor of 'which 41 jis thecylinder, 42 the guide rods, 43 the Specivcation of Letters Patent. iPatented Jan. 9, 1912.

cross-head, 44 the base frame, 45 the piston rod and 46 the connecting'rod. Air is drawn into the cylinder of the air compressor through an4automatic regulator 47 through the pipe 48 to the cylinder 41. It isejected after compression through the pipe 49 leading to T 50. From thisT all of the compressed air flows through pipe 51 to the air tank 52.The tank pressure bears against a small piston. in the automaticregulator 47, which pressure is resisted by an adjustable spring in sucha way that when the tank pressure rises above a certain value the supplyof airis automatically stopped and the compressor continues to rotateand have its parts move lwithout compressing any air. From tank 52 -airis led through th`e pipe 53 t0 theT 54 at which point a branch hose 55takes a supplyy of air to the cylinder of the hoist 13. Beyond 54 is thevalve 56. From that point air passes through the hose 20 to theautomatic valve 19 in the rotary drill 18. The cylinderof theairvcompressor is cooled by drawing water from the tank 35 through pipe 57'then-through the water jacket of the cylinder 41, then returned throughpipe 58 to the water tank 35.

In operation, the appliance is moved to a convement point close to wherethe hole is tobe dug. It may be moved either by furnishing its ownmotive oweror by being drawn by draft" animali; fastened to the frame 1b a line of suiiicient length so that these dra t animals may be out ofthe way of the boom and all its gear. The appliance is steered to theproper location by anjoperative turning the iront- Wheels by means ofthe steering lever'5. JllVhen it isv in the proper position ytheboom isadjusted 'by either a horizontal 'or a vertical motion,v or

' both, until the drill and auger are suspended immediatelyover thepoint' where it is d'e sired to dig the hole. The 4motive `power 1s in.continuous operation, compressing airat all times except whengovernedby the regulator on the air compressor. -When 'everything-is ready. anoperative braces himself jon; the ground and grasps the drill' 'by thehandle-'59..and thevalve' 19,- a helper at the same'timefgrasping thevhandle 59 which may bev asA much. longer -thanshown on thedrawing asnecessary', and steadying the drill bythe main'body with the other handto assist the operative in holding the stationary elementofthe drillagainst the thrust caused bythe operation of the auger in the ground..

The operative admits air to the Vdrill which compels the rotation of therotating element and vcauses the auger 21 to rotate. The auger 2lrotates and carries itself down in the ground until iti is fullnofexcavated material,

when the operative. releases valve 19 which automatically closes,shutting olf the air supply, and gives the signal to another operative wo by the manipulation of valve 15 of the cylinder hoist- 13 raises, bymeans of Jthe rope 17, the drill 18 and auger 21 out of the ground withits load of excavated material. This operative at the hoist then swingsthe boom 11 slightly to one side, and the operative at the drill shakesthe excavated material out of the auger; The operative at the hoist thenswings the boom back and by manipulating the hoist valve 15 lowers theauger into te hole `for another operation. This series of actions isrepeated until the hole is excavated to a depth where it is necessary tolengthen the stem of the auger to permit the. auger to go deeper and yet-retain for the operatives convenient and etlicient manipulation of theauger and drill.

' The operative then, by moving handle 7 0 in Fig. 4, moves the dogs 23,Fig. 4, so as to disengage'them from the seating holes in the innershaft 25; then he lengthens the stem of the auger to a suitable point,when he' releases lever so that dogs 23 will engage other holes in theinner shaft 25, maintalning rigidity in the auger stem at a differentlength. The operative then admits air into .the drill and repeats theoperations de- ;scribed hereinbefore until the hole is of the ydesired.ultimate de th. The valve 15 of the air hoist 13 is le t so that theauger is at va sufficient height to clear the ground, and a signal isgiven, either to the driver of the jdraft animals or to the attendantwho ope@rates the clutch connecting the prime mover with therea'rWheels,` and the entire appliyance is moved to the place Where it isdesired jle excavate'thev next hole, and the cycle of operations isrepeated.

In case it is desired to erect the pole at the same time, the drill 18is disengaged gfroln the hook 60 on the rope 17 and the -hookfisfastened into a sling of rop'e about .the pole and' `the pole is raisedby means of the cylinder hoist 13, manipulated through the valve 15,until it is at a suflicient height when itv guidedinto the hole by a manstationed at the vproper point 'for that pur,- gpose', the valve l5being properly.,.manipulated to -allowl .the pole lto be llowered intoSthe'hole. The clutch Qauger stem shown in Fig. 4 may be furtherexplained by noting that 671 is a collar on l operating thel telescopingthe outer tube 26 ,l 68 is' alug fastened on Vsaidgcollar; 69 is arotatable pin passing' through said lug';'70is a llever 7 1 is a collarslidable along the rod 72 and swiveledin thelever 70, and byraising thelever 701upward, as shown on the drawing, the rod 72.`

is raised, pulling the 4spring steel strap 73 away from thetube 26 andat the same time raising the dogs 23 and ydisengaging them from theholesinrthe innerA tube' 25.

With respect-to Figs. 5 and 6,.the` plan and elevation respectivelyjofthe front axle, 4 4 are the recessed steering knuckles, hav.-

ing axle recessed between pivots to insure ease of manipulation,rotatable horizontally in the ends ofthe `axle frame 74; 4-4 arevertical pivots of the recessed steering knuckle, placed as close to theplane of the wheel as possibleand arranged with respect to the axle sothat a plane through these pivots intersects the bearing surface of saidaxle, to secure ease and certainty in steering; 4 is the axle attachedto the knuckle ata point recessed with respect to the steering lmucklepivots 5 is a lever rotatable about the shaft 7 5, which is braced tothe axle by the brace 76, and transmitting motion through the rod 77 tothe connecting rod 6v which transmits motion and 'insures correspondenceof motion through the steering A of work exists, I prefer to use the twosepaknuckle lever' 78 to the steering knuckles 4.-4; 79 are steel rodsswinging the braced platform 80 from the bolster 81 andvbeing attachedto same through the saddles 82 and nutsg83; 84 are clamps fastening thebolster to the axle frame work. Fig. 7 shows another form ofconstruction of this front axle.

I preferto Vemploy the device illustrated and described herein for thepurpose o f excavating the pole holes only, allowing another simplerdevice for raising and 'setting the poles in the holes so dug to follow.

Instead of employingv this more complete schemeof two coperatingdevices, I sumbit the Ydevice of Fig. 2,'having the hook 60 fordetaching the drill and auger from the derrick, thus temporarilyconverting the hole digger to' be a pole erector. In usingthis singledevice for both purposes, the economy of operating is reduced in theconsideration of the -feature of idle equipment, since during thelerection ofjthe pole the entire excavating apparatus.. remainsunproductive;y

some increase of efliciency, however, tends to counterbalance this byreason` of having toy set but the one device to excavate,'and to erectthe pole. Where a suficient quantity rateedevices," keeping the deviceof Fig. 2 continuously operating in excavating and keeping lthe poleerecting device continuouslyoperating'in erection of poles; however,

A anytask of limited extent, it will be found erecting device anduse'the device of Fig.- 5

' cavator and erector.

Having thus described in detail theoper-l more economical to discardvthe separate 2 in its modified capacity of combined exations anddifferent forms of this appliance, and having shown the flexibilitypossessed by the saine, what I claim as new and desire vto secure byUnited States Letters Patent is:

l. In a pole erecting apparatus l'the combination of awheeled platform;a' :derrick mounted upon one end of said platform;

steering knuckles 'associated with the wheels forthe erection of anisolated pole; orl

of said platform at the end supporting said derrick, whereby said Aderrick mayv be brought conveniently into position for operation; an airdrill suspendedfrom saidv derrick by tackle; an air hoist associatedwith said' derrick and adapted to-operate said tackle, said derrick andhoist beingjointly adapted to bring said air drill into position foroperation, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a pole erecting apparatus the combination of a wheeled platform; aderrick mounted upon said platform; steering knuckles associated withthe wheels of said platform whereby vsaid derrick may be` broughtconveniently into position for operation; an earth auger suspended fromsaid derrick by tackle; and an air hoist asso.- ciated with said derrickand adapted to operate said tackle, said derrick and hoist being jointlyadapted to bring said earth auger into position-for operation,substantially as described. l

- 3. In a pole erecting apparatus the combination of a wheeled platform;a derrick mounted upon said platform; steering knuckles associated withthe wheels of said platform whereby said derrick may be broughtconveniently into position for operation; a rotary air drill suspendedfrom said derrick by tackle; an air hoist associated with' said derrickand adapted to operate said tackle, said'derrick and hoist being jointlyadapted to bring said rotary air drill into position for operation; andan earth auger attached to the revolving spindle of said rotary airdrill and adapted to be operated byv said air drill, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a pole erecting apparatus the .combination of a wheeled platform;a derrick mounted upon said platform; steering knuckles'associatedwiththe wheels supporting 'said platform, whereby said derrick may beconveniently br'ought into position; a' ro -tary air drill suspendedvfrom said derrickby a tackle; 'an air hoist associated with said derrickand controlling the operation of said"'tackle, said. derrick and hoistbeing jointly adapted to bring said rotary air 4drill .into Apositionfor operation; an earth auger attached to the revolving spindle ofsaid'rotary airl drill and adapted to be operated by `said air drill;and a source Ofcomypressed air carried by said wheeled platform,substantially as described.

j y5, Ina pole erecting apparatus the combination of a wheeled platform;a derrick mounted upon said platform; steering knuckles associated withthe wheels supporting' i saidplatform, conveniently be rought intoposition; an air drill suspende from said derrick by a tackle; an airhoist associated with said derrick and controlling the operation ofsaidtackle, said derrick Vand hoist being whereby said Tderrick may.

position for operation; an air .compressor mounted upon said platform;and a prime mover operating said air compressor, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a pole erecting apparatus the combination of awheeled platform; aderrick mounted upon said platform; steering knuckles associated withthe wheels supporting said platform' whereby said derrick may beconveniently brought into position; a rotary air drill suspended fromsaid derrick by a tackle; an air hoist associated with said derrick andcontrolling the operation of said tackle, said derrick and hoist beingjointly adapted to bring said rotary air drill into position foropera-tion; an'earth auger attaehed to lthe'revolving spindle of saidrotary air drill andadapted to be operated by saidv air drill; an aircompressor; and a prime mover operating said air compressor,subst-antially as described.

7. In a pole erecting apparatus the combination of a Wheeled platform; aderrickA mounted upon said platform; steering knuckles associated withthe wheels supporting said platform whereby `said derrick may beconveniently brought into position; an air drill suspended from saidderrick by tackle; an air hoist associated with said derrick andcontrolling theoperation of said tackle, said derrick and hoist beingjointly adapted to bring said air drill into position 'for operation; asource of compressed air carriedby said wheeled platform; and a flexibleair hose connecting saidair drill and said source of compressed air,substantially as described. I f

8. In a pole erecting apparatus the combinat-ion of a wheeled platform;a derrick mounted upon said platform; steering knuckles associated withthe wheels supporting said platform whereby said derrckmay bevconveniently brought into position;r a -ro-l tary air drill suspendedfrom said derrick by a tackle an air'hoistl associated with said derrickand controlling the operation of said 4 tackle, saidv derrick and hoistbeing jointly adapted to bring said 'rotary air drill into position foroperation; van earth auger at-` tached to 'the revolving lspindle ofsaid rotary air drill and adaptedl to be operated by .said air drill; yasource of compressed air carried by said wheeled platform; and aflexible air hose connecting said rotary air drill and said source ofcompressed air, substantially as described.

9u. In a pole erecting apparatus the combination of a wheeled platform;a derrick mounted upon ,said platform; steering knuckles. associatedwith the wheels supporting said platform whereby said derrick may bevconveniently brought into position; an air drill'suspended from saidderrick by a tackle; an air hoist associated with said derrick to bringsaid air drill into position for oper-A ation; an air compressor; aprime mover opf erating said air compressor; and a flexible air hoseconnecting said air drill and air compressor, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a pole erecting apparatus the coms bination of a wheeledplatform; a derrick mounted upon said platform; steering knucklesVassociated with the Wheels supporting said platform whereby saidderrick may be conveniently brought into position; a rotary air drillsuspended from said derrick by a tackle; 'an air hoist associated withsaid derrick and controlling the operation of said tackle, said derrickand hoist being jointly adapted to bring said rotary air drill intoposition `for operation; an earth auger attached to the' revolvingspindle of said rotary air drill and adapted to be operated by said airdrill; an air compressor; a prime mover operating said air compressor;and a flexible hose connecting said rotaryv air drill and said aircompressorsubstantially as described.

11. In pole erecting apparatus the combination of a wheeled platform; aderrick 'mounted upon said platform; a drill suspended from said.derrick by a tackle; a hoist associated with said derrick andcontrolling theoperation of said tackle, said derrick and hoist beingjointly adapted to bring said airldrill into position for operation; agenerator of energy mounted upon said platform and adapted to generateenergy of a character adapted to operate said drill and said hoist; anda prime mover operating said generator, substantially as de-A scribe 12,In a pole erecting apparatus thecorn-v bination of a wheeled platform;'aderrick lmounted upon said, plat-form;` steering knuckles associatedwith the` Wheels of said platform atthe end supporting said derrick"whereby .sa1d derrick may be brought con 1 vemently into position 'foroperation; and a d rill suspended from said derrick, said der- 'rickbein adapted to bring said drill into position or operation;substantially as *des 4 scribed.

13. In a pole verecting. apparatus, a vehicle; a derrick .mounted upononefend ofsaid vehicle; steering lmuckles associatedv with the wheels ofsaid vehicle at the end supporting said derrick, whereby said derrickmay be brought conveniently into position for operation, adrillsuspended from said derrick by tackle; a hoist associatedwith saidderrick and `adapted to operate said tackle, said derrick and hoist`being jointly adapted to bringsaid ydrill into po,- sition foroperation, lsubstantially as described.

14. In apole erecting apparatus, la veand a source of com ressed aircarried by i said vehicle, substantlally as described.

v15. In a pole erecting apparatus the combination 0f-a vWheeledplatform; a derrick mounted upon said platform; a rotary air drillsuspended from said derrick by a tackle; an air hoist associated withsaid derrick and controlling the operation of said tackle, said derrickand hoist being jointly adaptedv to bring said rotary air drill intoposition for-operation; an earth auger attached to the revolving spindleof said rotary air drill and adapted to be operated by said air drill;and a source of compressed air carried by said Wheeled platform,substantially as described.

16. In a pole erecting apparatus a vehicle; a derrlck mounted upon saidvehicle; an air drill suspended from said derrick; an air compressor;and a primemover operating said air compressor, said air compressor 4andprime mover-,being carried by said Vehicle, substantially as described.

17. AIn a ole erecting apparatus the combination ofp a Wheeled platform;a derrick mounted upon said platform; a rotary air drill suspended fromsaid derrick by a tackle an air hoist associated with said derrick and'controlling the operationof said tackle, said derrick and hoist beingjointly adapted tobring said rotary air drill into position foroperation; an earth auger attached to the revolving spindle of saidrotary air drill and adapted to b e ,operated by said air drill; anaircompressor; and a prime mover operating said airA compressor,substantially as described.

18. In a pole erecting apparatus the combination of a Wheeled platform;a derrick vmounted upon said platform; a rotary air drillk suspendedfrom said derrick by a tackle; an air hoist associated -with saidderrick and controlling lthe operation of said tackle, said derrick andhoist being jointly adapted to'bring said rotary air v drill intoposition for operation; an earth auger attached to the revolving spindleof said rotary air drill and adapted to be operated by said z air drill;a` source of compressed air carried by said Wheeled plat form; and aflexible air hose connecting said rotary air drill and said source ofcompressed air, substantially as described.

19. In a pole erecting apparatus the combination of a Wheeled platform;a derrick mounted upon said platform; an air drill suspended from saidderrick;" an air compressor; a prime mover operating said aircompressor; and a flexible airhose connect,

ingv said air drill and said air compressor, substantially as described.

Signed by me at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, in the.presence of two Witnesses.

JOI-IN M. HUMISTON.

Witnesses:

DAVID S. HULFIS'H, Hammer L. SMITH.

